Cranial Osteopathy

(By Jodi Capleton BSc (HONS) OST MED, ND)

Cranial Osteopathy is a gentle, subtle, yet extremely effective type of osteopathic treatment for the whole body.

Cranial Osteopaths are trained at a post graduate level to feel a rhythmical shape change that occurs in all the tissues of the body. This is called Involuntary Motion or the “cranial rhythm” and is part of our body's natural self-corrective mechanism. The movement has very small amplitude and practitioners need to develop a fine sense of touch.

The quality and size of the movement gives the practitioner information about tissue health. In perfect health the movement is symmetrical, felt throughout the body, and ‘lively'. Through injury or illness the rhythm gets blocked, distorted or sluggish. Too much injury or stress and the body can not compensate, expressing pain or ill health. Cranial Osteopathy works with this corrective mechanism amplifying its action on the body to resolve blocks in the Involuntary Motion.

The term ‘Cranial' Osteopathy was used after William Garner Sutherland (a student of Dr AT Still, the founder of osteopathy) observed in 1899 that the 26 bones of the skull are sutured or joined in such a way as to enable very specific movements. Trauma to the head or face can affect the symmetry or block the motion which affects the rhythm in the rest of the body and often our general health. When this happens during our intra-uterine life, birth or childhood it can affect how we grow, the shape of our spine and head. This affects our posture and balance and therefore how we move in everyday life. Blocks to movement in the head can also come from some dental trauma and some orthodontic work.